AZ Legislative Update – April 23, 2026
Posted by [email protected] on Apr. 23, 2026 / Subscribe 0
The Arizona 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session reached its 100-day mark on Tuesday, a key procedural milestone that typically signals the final stretch of the legislative calendar. Despite this, there is no clear path forward on a state budget, and negotiations between Republican legislative leadership and Governor Hobbs remain at a standstill. The Governor’s bill moratorium also remains in effect, further slowing the advancement of non-budget legislation. As a result, the Senate convened only on Monday and Tuesday, while the House adjourned on Wednesday, calling it an early week.
The budget impasse continues to center on significant policy differences. Republican lawmakers are expected to advance a partisan budget proposal in the coming days that includes full tax conformity with the federal tax code. To offset the estimated revenue loss associated with conformity, the proposal is anticipated to rely on a combination of agency budget reductions and fund sweeps. Tax conformity has been one of the most contentious issues this session, with the Governor already vetoing two prior proposals due to concerns over their fiscal impact and the absence of a broader bipartisan agreement.
If the Legislature proceeds with this approach, the Governor is expected to quickly veto the package. Notably, the anticipated Republican budget proposal is not expected to address the continuation or replacement of Proposition 123, which has historically provided a significant funding stream for K–12 education. This remains a top priority for the Governor and a central sticking point in ongoing negotiations.
From a legislative activity standpoint, of the 1,966 bills introduced this session, the Legislature has passed 109 measures to date. Governor Hobbs has signed 64 bills into law and vetoed 45.
With statutory deadlines looming and major policy disagreements unresolved, both the timing and outcome of the budget process remain uncertain, making it increasingly likely that the session will extend well into June.
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